Gracie Spinks: Stalking victim's parents welcome police changes

Gracie Spinks, 23, was murdered in Duckmanton in Derbyshire on 18 June 2021

The parents of Gracie Spinks, who was murdered by her stalker, have welcomed changes made by Derbyshire Police following her inquest.

Richard Spinks and Alison Ward also said they intend to work with the force to train officers around stalking.

They had previously been strongly critical of police, saying failings had contributed to their daughter's death.

But they now say they are "impressed" by changes set out by the chief constable in a letter.

The letter was in response to a Report to Prevent Future Deaths, which was sent by the coroner following Miss Spinks's inquest.

In a joint statement, her parents said: "Victims will really benefit from the changes that have been implemented and will receive the protection they need and deserve.

"Gracie in life and death has helped to create a better world."

Miss Spinks's parents have been campaigning for police forces to improve stalking training

Changes in Chief Constable Rachel Swann's letter include:

• Reviewing and refreshing the content of the force's training on stalking

• Delivering the revised mandatory stalking training to all front-line police officers and staff, starting on 11 January and due to be completed by April

• A new stalking policy, due to be published in February

• Various improvements around risk assessments

• Upgrading its crime management system - which is also used by other police forces - to improve how stalking offence locations are recorded

• Reminding staff about the importance of contemporaneous note taking and record keeping

Miss Spinks, who was 23, was stabbed to death by her former work colleague Michael Sellers, after she went to look after her horse in Duckmanton in Derbyshire on 18 June 2021.

Sellers, 35, had become obsessed with Miss Spinks after she rejected him romantically, and he started stalking her.

After killing Miss Spinks, Sellers killed himself, which the coroner said he had done to "remove himself from any form of accountability for his actions towards Gracie Spinks".

Since Miss Spinks's death, her parents have been campaigning for police forces to have improved training and procedures to deal with stalking.

Miss Spinks's parents said she had "helped to create a better world"

Immediately after the inquest, her parents were angry with Derbyshire Police.

But speaking to the BBC earlier, Mrs Ward said: "Since the inquest we have spoken to Derbyshire Constabulary and we have said going forward, we are really more than happy to help with any sort of training.

"Whether it be meeting us in person, or a video, we don't quite know how it's going to work, but they're really keen to work with us and we're keen to work with them."

The family are also working with other police forces.

"We've also got a visit next month down to Cheshire Constabulary to visit them and see what they've already got up and running, and we're in touch with Humberside as well, who are already using Gracie's case within their training," said Mrs Ward.

Mr Spinks said: "We're going to continue with this campaign to make a difference, to save lives, to get advocates and stalking coordinators in all the police forces.

"Four are interested now, it's moving in the right direction, others will come on board and I'm fairly positive about 2024, it's going to be a massive year for change."